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SA Rugby has revamped its professional junior rugby pathways with the creation of a new Under-23 competition to ensure emerging players are optimally prepared for senior rugby.

The change was approved at a Special General Council meeting of SA Rugby on Wednesday, following a thorough review of the playing calendar, to provide additional opportunities for game time at an important developmental stage of playing careers.

The new SA Rugby Under-23 Cup competition will kick off next month for the four Vodacom United Rugby Championship franchises. The Under-19 competition has been discontinued, while the SA Rugby U20 Cup will return to the local schedule for the first time since 2023, replacing the SA Rugby U21 Cup (“first division”) competition. The U21 Shield competition (“second division”) remains unchanged.

The changes were made to ensure a better pipeline for players coming out of school and into the junior ranks, before progressing to senior rugby, said Dave Wessels, General Manager of SA Rugby’s High-Performance Department.

“We’ve seen the brilliant work done by our schoolboy coaches, and as a result, our U18 teams have been in dominant form for some years, but that didn’t translate into success at U20 level,” said Wessels.

“Something was amiss between U18 and U20 level, with other countries somehow overtaking us, and after a thorough review, we realised this age group needs more competitive game time.

“Some of our Junior Bok players were playing as little as 10 games in the two years after school, which was much fewer than they were used to at school level – not an ideal preparation environment. Ultimately, playing the game is the best teacher.”

Rian Oberholzer, CEO of SA Rugby, said the previous schedule was devised during the days of Super Rugby, and that there was an overlap in the U19, U21 and Carling Currie Cup competitions, which meant good young players who could feature in all three competitions were limited to playing only one of them.

With the Junior Springbok training camps and the FNB Varsity Cup Young Guns providing opportunities for U20 players early in the year, they will be able to build on that in the U20 Cup in the latter half of the season.

“By bringing in the new U23 competition, we hope to give the younger contracted players at our Vodacom URC franchises consistent rugby early in the year, so they are ready if they are needed at senior level,” said Oberholzer.

“We should also look at ways to give our other unions the opportunity to recruit and develop talented players – so no one is lost to the system.

“Ultimately, we want to ensure that U23 players get as much quality game time as possible, and we will assist where we can if there are requests for these players to join provincial unions on loan from international franchises, for instance, to play in the Currie Cup.”

SA Rugby provincial age-group competitions

SA Rugby Under-23 Cup

Participating teams: Vodacom Bulls, Lions, Hollywoodbets Sharks, DHL Stormers

Opening round: 21 March (double round of matches with a final)

Final: 16 May

 

SA Rugby Under-20 Cup

Participating teams: Vodacom Bulls, Toyota Cheetahs, Golden Lions, Leopards, Hollywoodbets Sharks, DHL Western Province

Opening round: 16 May (double round of matches with two semi-finals and a final)

Final: 24 October

 

SA Rugby Under-21 Shield

Participating teams: Southern Section – Sanlam Boland, Border, Eastern Province, SWD Eagles; Northern Section – Griffons, Suzuki Griquas, Limpopo Blue Bulls, Airlink Pumas, Valke

Opening round: 22 August. Northern Section – single round, semi-finals and final; Southern Section – double round, semi-final and final (Sanlam Boland, Border, Eastern Province, SWD)

Final: 10 October (between the winners of the two sections)

 

Issued by SA Rugby Communications

School and youth sport has always carried pressure.

Pressure to perform.

Pressure to win.

Pressure to balance academics, training and expectations.

The idea that commercialisation somehow introduces pressure into an otherwise pressure-free environment is both naïve and unhelpful. Pressure already exists. The real question is whether we are equipping young athletes with the support systems they need to manage it safely, sustainably and successfully.

That is where commercialisation, done properly, becomes not a risk, but a responsibility.

The Funding Gap No One Likes Talking About

Across South Africa, schools and universities are being asked to deliver more from their sports programmes than ever before:

• Better and safer facilities
• Qualified, specialised coaching

• Proper medical, physiotherapy and conditioning support

• Structured touring programmes
• Access to balanced nutrition

• In some cases, academic and educational support for student-athletes

Yet many of these programmes are expected to operate on legacy budgets, goodwill and occasional sponsorship, often concentrated around a handful of headline sports.

The result is predictable:

• A few programmes thrive
• Many operate under strain

• Too many athletes fall through the cracks

If we are serious about participation, inclusion and athlete welfare, then sustainable funding is not optional.

Commercialisation Is About Investment, Not Exploitation

The caricature of sponsorship as something that “uses” young athletes misses the point entirely.

Responsible commercialisation:

• Funds better coaching, not shortcuts
• Pays for medical care, not pressure to play injured
• Enables safer facilities, not riskier environments
• Supports nutrition and recovery, not burnout

• Creates access, not exclusion

In fact, one could argue that the greater risk lies in underfunded sport, where:

• Injuries go untreated
• Coaches are overextended
• Touring becomes inequitable
• Nutrition is an afterthought

• Mental and physical load is unmanaged

Commercial support, when structured properly, allows institutions to reduce harmful pressures, not increase them.

Young Athletes Are Already Under Pressure – Let’s Be Honest About That

Let’s be clear:

The pressures young people face today extend far beyond sport.

Academic competition, social media, financial uncertainty, family expectations and future career anxiety all weigh heavily. Sport does not create this pressure, but it can either amplify it or help manage it, depending on how well resourced the system is.

Well-funded sports environments:

• Provide structure
• Offer mentorship
• Teach resilience and teamwork
• Build identity and belonging

• Create pathways rather than dead ends

The presence of sponsors does not inherently add pressure. Poor governance and poor funding do.

Why Measurement and Accountability Matter

One of the most important shifts in recent years has been the move from informal sponsorship to measured, accountable partnerships.

With proper data, schools and universities can:

• Price sponsorship rights fairly
• Protect athlete and institutional values
• Set clear expectations with partners
• Report transparently on value delivered

• Reinvest income across multiple sports

This is where organisations like Nielsen Sports South Africa play a critical role, helping institutions understand the real value of their audiences, events and content and ensuring that commercial decisions are evidence-based, not guesswork.

Commercialisation without measurement is risky.

Commercialisation with measurement is responsible.

The Role of SuperSport Schools

The rise of platforms like SuperSport Schools has fundamentally changed the landscape.

Streaming has:

• Made school sport visible at scale
• Created measurable audiences
• Opened new storytelling opportunities

• Given the schools real media assets

With visibility comes responsibility to use that exposure not just for pride, but for long-term sustainability. Commercialisation is the mechanism that converts exposure into investment.

A Necessary Industry Conversation

These issues will be unpacked in detail at the Nielsen Sports School and Youth Sport Commercialisation Conference, powered by SuperSport Schools, taking place 12th and 13th February 2026.

The conference exists for one reason: to help schools and universities fund sport responsibly, professionally and sustainably across multiple codes.

It is not about selling out.

It is about stepping up.

The Real Question We Should Be Asking

The debate should not be:

“Does sponsorship put pressure on young athletes?”

The real question is:

“Is it responsible to run ambitious sports programmes without properly funding the systems that support young people?”

If we care about athlete welfare, inclusion and opportunity, then commercialisation done ethically and intelligently is part of the solution.

School and youth sport are too important to be underfunded.

And the future of South African sport depends on what we do about that.

Widely regarded as one of the country’s most entertaining and successful school rugby events, the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival (KERF) returns this year with an impressive field of 28 participating teams, including international visitors from Europe and neighbouring Zimbabwe.

Now in its 17th year, the prestigious festival promises another thrilling showcase of top-level schoolboy rugby, while offering local spectators a unique glimpse into the school rugby styles of Ireland and Italy, which adds an exciting international dimension to the Easter weekend spectacle.

Touring teams from the Catholic University School (Dublin, Ireland), Verona Rugby (Northern Italy) and Peterhouse (Zimbabwe) will be joined by four strong local KwaZulu-Natal schools in the senior boys’ division – Durban High School (DHS), Westville Boys’ High, both top 10 teams in South Africa last year, Glenwood High, and the hosts, Kearsney College, who are a dark horse team that could be one to watch in 2026.

Included in the lineup are two tough Gauteng teams – Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen (Boksburg) and newcomers, Helpmekaar College (Braamfontein); as well as Hoërskool Rustenburg (North West); the Eastern Cape’s always-exciting Hoërskool Framesby (Gqeberha) and Milnerton High School (Cape Town).

The three playing days over Easter weekend are Thursday, 2 April, Saturday, 4 April, and Monday, 6 April.

Confirming the participating teams, Kearsney headmaster Patrick Lees said the success of the festival, which last year included three divisions for the first time, highlighted its invaluable role in the development of the country’s school rugby culture and growth since Kearsney’s inaugural festival in 2008.

He acknowledged the immense contribution of festival sponsors, whose invaluable support has enabled the event to grow each year.

Headline sponsor Standard Bank South Africa said their sponsorship of the festival highlighted their desire to support youth development.

“We recognise the powerful role that sport and education play in building character, confidence and unity. Through platforms like this festival, we are not only nurturing athletes, we are shaping responsible, resilient and inspired leaders for tomorrow,” said Tshiamo Molanda, Head of the Youth and Mass Market at Standard Bank’s personal and private banking division.

Carrie-Ann van Heerden, the Dealer Principal at first-tier sponsor, Halfway Ford Waterfall, said they were looking forward to another unforgettable KERF weekend, where families, friends and rugby enthusiasts can celebrate the game.

“There is nothing quite like the electric atmosphere at the festival – the roar of the crowd, the crunch of hard tackles, and the pride that rugby ignites in all of us,” she said.

Coenraad de Villiers, the High Performance Manager at The Sharks Academy, said he was impressed by the consistently high standard of rugby on display at KERF, adding that many of the players would go on to contribute meaningfully to the growth and success of rugby in the country.

Building on the success of an initiative at last year’s festival, four u16 girls’ teams will play during lunchtime slots. They are Mowat Park High, from Montclair, Grosvenor Girls’ High, from The Bluff, Inanda’s Ohlange High School, and Ogwini Comprehensive Technical High School, from Umlazi. The latter two teams boast five and six provincial rugby players, respectively.

Twelve primary school teams will also enjoy the excitement of playing festival rugby in front of large crowds.

Joining the touring Peterhouse u13 team, from Zimbabwe, will be local teams from Ashton Ballito, Atholl Heights Primary, Chelsea Prep, Highbury Prep, Hillcrest Primary, Kloof Senior Primary, Northlands Primary, Umhlali Prep, Westville Senior Primary, and Winston Park, as well as the KZN Ibutho Development side.

Teams travel with families and supporters to enjoy KERF’s spectacle of running rugby in a family-friendly festival atmosphere on Kearsney’s beautiful campus.  Adding to the ambience, there will be a fun KidZone for the little ones, ample parking, as well as numerous food outlets and a refreshment tent to ensure spectators can fully enjoy the weekend’s sporting entertainment.

For those unable to attend the festival, games will be live-streamed on the SuperSport Schools app. Additional festival information, results, match reports, and action photographs will be available on www.kearsney.com during the festival.

To avoid the queues, tickets can be purchased online now, at Quicket.co.za

FIXTURES: STOTT FIELD

Day one, Thursday, 2 April

08:00 – Helpmekaar Kollege vs Glenwood High
09:20 – Framesby vs Peterhouse
10:40 – Westville Boys’ High vs Catholic University School (Ireland)
13:00 – Kearsney College vs Hoērskool Rustenburg
14:20 – Milnerton vs Dr EG Jansen
15:40 – Durban High School vs Verona Rugby (Italy)

Day two, Saturday, 4 April

08:00 – Peterhouse vs Milnerton
09:20 – Durban High School vs Hoērskool Rustenburg
10:40 –  Verona Rugby (Italy) vs Dr EG Jansen
13:00 – Glenwood High vs Framesby
14:20 – Kearsney vs Catholic University School (Ireland)
15:40 – Westville Boys’ High vs Helpmekaar Kollege

Day three, Monday, 6 April

08:00 – Helpmekaar Kollege vs Framesby
09:20 – Glenwood High vs Dr EG Jansen
10:40 – Peterhouse vs Dr EG Jansen
12:50 – Closing ceremony
13:00 – Westville Boys’ High vs Milnerton
14:20 – Durban High School vs Catholic University School (Ireland)
15:40 – Kearsney vs Verona Rugby (Italy)

FIXTURES – GIRLS’ U16

Thursday, 2 April

12:00 – Ogwini Comprehensive Technical vs Grosvenor Girls, Stott
12:00 – Ohlange High vs Mowat Park High, Roberts

Saturday, 4 April

12:00 – Ogwini Comprehensive Technical vs Ohlage High, Stott
12:00 – Grosvenor Girls vs Mowat Park High, Roberts

Monday, 6 April

12:00 – Ogwini Comprehensive Technical vs Mowat Park High, Stott
12:00 – Grosvenor Girls vs Ohlange High, Roberts

The 50th edition of the Vides Water Polo Tournament, hosted by Selborne College in East London, got off to a storming start on Thursday.

The teams in action brought flair and their A-game, thrilling spectators at Selborne’s main pool and at the Clarendon High School for Girls’ Aquatic Centre.

Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools.

The action kicked off with the defending champions, St David’s Marist Inanda, taking on the Western Cape’s Paarl Boys’ High.

Drawn in Pool C, St David’s is among the favourites to win the tournament, and they proved why, securing a 9-3 victory to begin their title defence.

Coach Dean Whyte‘s boys weren’t at their best, but they got the job done in the second half, courtesy of some sharp shooting in front of goal.

Michaelhouse and Reddam House Constantia also added ticks to the win column.

‘House outplayed St Alban’s College on their way to a comprehensive 16-4 victory, while Reddam looked comfortable against a Collegians side, running out 11-4 victors.

Pool B is led by the hosts, Selborne and Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG). Both outfits had struggled on opening days in recent tournaments and had set their sights on putting the “day one hoodoo” behind them.

They were successful in that quest, as Selborne beat Pearson High 12-4, while PRG dominated against an out-of-sync Grey College outfit.

Last year’s silver medallists, St Andrew’s College (SAC), also impressed, along with Wynberg Boys’ High, under the guidance of coach Kwakhona Ngwanya.

The Pool D duo made light work of their opponents. SAC was unstoppable against Woodridge College, and won 12-4, while Wynberg beat Stirling High by the same score.

St Andrew’s and Wynberg meet early on Friday. The result of that fixture could determine which side finishes atop the pool.

The in-form Grey High also bagged a confidence-boosting win, holding off Glenwood House in a cagey affair.

Coach Ridge Snelling‘s boys are dark horses and will fancy their chances in Pool C. A first-place finish is well within their reach. St David’s, however, looms as their toughest challenge.

Day two will commence bright and early with a meeting between Reddam and St Alban’s at Selborne, while Michaelhouse battles Collegians at Clarendon. Both matches start at 08:00.

Results | Day 1

@Selborne College 

St Andrew’s 12-4 Woodridge
Michaelhouse 16-4 St Alban’s
Selborne 14-2 Pearson
Grey High 10-6 Glenwood House

@Clarendon 

Paarl Boys’ 3-9 St David’s
Reddam House 11-4 Collegians
Wynberg 12-4 Stirling
Paul Roos 10-1 Grey College

Friday, 13 February

@Selborne College 

08:00 – Reddam House vs St Alban’s; 08:50 – Selborne vs Grey College; 09:40 – Paarl Boys’ vs Grey High; 10:30 – St Andrew’s vs Wynberg; 11:20 – Collegians vs St Alban’s; 12:10 – Selborne vs Paul Roos; 13:00 – St David’s vs Grey High; 13:50 – Stirling vs St Andrew’s.

@Clarendon 

08:00 – Michaelhouse vs Collegians; 08:50 – Pearson vs Paul Roos; 09:40 – St David’s vs Glenwood House; 10:30 – Stirling vs Woodridge; 11:20 – Michaelhouse vs Reddam House; 12:10 – Pearson vs Grey College; 13:00 – Paarl Boys’ vs Glenwood House; 13:50 – Wynberg vs Woodridge.

Ahead of three days of intense competition, the 12 teams participating in the third annual Clifton T20 Tournament received their playing kits at an opening dinner in the Ken MacKenzie Hall, at Clifton, in Durban, on Thursday. It’s an event eagerly anticipated by the players, who get to see their colourful attire for the first time at the dinner.

Clifton’s Executive Headmaster, Adam Rogers, thanked the event’s sponsors – they include Mercedes-Benz, the lead sponsor, and the other premier sponsors, Edgars, Warm Heart, and City Logistics – and the people who have been hard at work behind the scenes organising the event.

“Most importantly,” he said, ” I wish to welcome you, the cricketers, and thank you for the commitment and passion that you bring to this great game.

“Cricket demands courage and character and composure. It asks you to compete fiercely and to represent your schools with pride. I have no doubt that you will do this and be a credit to your schools.”

He also shared his excitement about a change to the event: the inclusion of four primary school teams, from Clifton Prep, Highbury, Northlands Primary and Westville Senior Primary. They’ll be in action on Saturday, the middle of the three days of competition, and their matches will be livestreamed on SuperSport Schools, while the showdown between Clifton and Highbury, for the Richards Procter Trophy, will be shown on DStv Channel 216, which will feature all the matches from the Crusaders Main Oval.

Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools or on DStv Channel 216

Durban High School (DHS) is the two-time defending champion. One of the key matches that will be featured on the Crusaders Main Oval at 14:30 on Friday will be the showdown between DHS and Hoërskool Waterkloof, the Wildeklawer T20 title holder.

In the 2025 tournament, Josh van Biljon, now the captain of DHS, delivered one of the highlights of the event, scoring a magnificent 103 not out against Klofies in only 54 balls to help School to 197/6. They went on to win by 44 runs after restricting Waterkloof to 153/8 in reply. Van Biljon was one of six centurions during the event.

Last year, though, Waterkloof was not quite at full strength – they were close to it, but not quite there – as captain Franco Schmidt pointed out when asked about that during a Q-and-A session on Thursday evening. “Last year, we had a league game at school on the Saturday, so one of our main spinners and one of our main pace bowlers played the league match in Pretoria. That game was to decide if our final would be at home or away.”

Picking a favourite to go all the way would be foolish, but there are plenty of teams that have put together strong seasons thus far.

In Group A, the hosts, Clifton College, have been on a strong run in the W100 competition, winning three of their four matches, including wins over DHS, Westville Boys’ High, and Kearsney College.

Kearsney has been in good recent form and is playing confidently. Hilton College, meanwhile, won the Switch Schools SA20 KZN Regional title, while St John’s College (Harare) has a young and unpredictable line-up, led by Luca Spagnualo, who will be playing in the Clifton T20 for a third time.

Group B features last year’s runner-up, Westville Boys’ High, which is another team in good form. They lost in the final of the Switch Schools SA20, but recently avenged that defeat to Hilton in a limited-overs clash.

The group opens with Westville facing Northwood, one of the dark horses in some people’s minds, while Maritzburg College and St Charles face off in a Pietermaritzburg derby. Of the four, Saints has been the least consistent, but there appears to be some consistency in many people’s assessment of them, that they, too, are a dark horse side.

Group C features the defending champion, DHS, who’ve played some impressive cricket this season, led by a top-order that leans heavily on the skipper, Josh van Biljon, and left-handed opener, Ismaeel Omar, who was also one of last year’s six centurions.

They’re far from a two-man team, though, and, among others, their bowling attack features the in-form Bonga Maphanga, who turned out for the Dolphins at the Khaya Majola Week, and leg-spinner, Tristan Quail, who is capable of stopping a team dead in its tracks with his accuracy.

They’re going to be pressed hard by another team playing excellent cricket in 2025, Michaelhouse, whose spinners have been one of their strengths. Those bowlers have succeeded in putting their opposition under pressure, but they will be challenged from the very first game when they take on Waterkloof, who will go hard at ‘House. It should be a fascinating contest and will reveal a lot about both sides.

Glenwood completes the line-up. They’ve had a tough time this season thus far. However, they’re always a well-drilled team in the field, and that can carry a team far in the T20 format. They’ll look to their talented skipper, Kreesan Pillai, for inspiration as they attempt to pull off an upset or two.

Rain could impact Saturday’s fixtures, according to weather reports. That will make winning on Friday, while producing strong net run rates, vital.

FIXTURES

Group A

Friday, 13 February

11:30 – Clifton vs Hilton, Crusaders Main
14:30 – St John’s vs Kearsney, Riverside

Saturday, 14 February

08:30 – Clifton vs St John’s, Crusaders Main
08:30 – Kearsney vs Hilton, Crusaders 2
14:30 – Clifton vs Kearsney, Crusaders Main
14:30 – St John’s vs Hilton, Riverside

Group B

Friday, 13 February

08:30 – Maritzburg College vs St Charles, Crusaders Main
08:30 – Northwood vs Westville, Riverside
14:00 – St Charles vs Northwood, DHS
14:00 – Westville vs Maritzburg College, Northwood

Saturday, 14 February

08:30 – Northwood vs Maritzburg College, Riverside
14:00 – St Charles vs Westville, Northwood

Group C

Friday, 13 February

08:30 – Michaelhouse vs Waterkloof, DHS
08:30 – Glenwood vs DHS, Northwood
14:30 – DHS vs Waterkloof, Crusaders Main

Saturday, 14 February

08:30 – Waterkloof vs Glenwood, DHS
08:30 – DHS vs Michaelhouse, Northwood
14:00 – Glenwood vs Michaelhouse, DHS

Sunday, 15 February

08:30 – Eliminator 1, Crusaders Main
08:30 – Eliminator 2, Crusaders 2
09:00 – 7th place, DHS
09:00 – 9th place, Northwood
09:00 – 11th place, Kingsmead Oval
11:30 – Semi-final 1, Crusaders Main
11:30 – Semi-final 2, Crusaders 2
14:30 – Final, Crusaders Main

Lincoln Casais loves numbers. He enjoys them so much that he faultlessly recited the four- and six-times tables by the time he turned four years old. A few years later, Casais scooped the award for the best mental Maths student as a Grade 1 learner. Since then, he has consistently recorded marks of 80 percent or higher in Mathematics.

Casais also loves cricket. That love began at a young age. When he was three years old, he cast aside football, rugby, and any other ball sports for the game.

His father, Marc, spent countless hours throwing the ball to him, and when he wasn’t there, Casais conjured up versions of the game that kept him busy for hours.

Nirvana was when he combined his two loves. From an early age, Casais counted his runs in multiples of four and six, depending on how far he hit the ball. Each day, he faced as many deliveries as possible, attempting to better the previous day’s total. It is not inconceivable that he reached 300 runs in a single session.

However, it was years before he got close to a triple century in a proper contest. That happened when he was 14.

Casais, who batted at number three for the Jeppe u14A team, walked in to bat in the second over against St Benedict’s College and had barely settled in when his side lost two more wickets. Instead of multiplying his runs in multiples of four and six, Casais dug his heels in and set about accumulating singles and hitting the odd four when the Bennies‘ bowlers delivered a bad ball.

His approach changed after he reached the 100-run mark. In an astonishing onslaught, 20 of the next 30 balls he faced were smashed for six. He finished with an unbeaten 260 from only 132 deliveries, the highest individual score by a Jeppe learner. It also propelled Jeppe to 485 runs in 50 overs, the highest score by a Jeppe team.

The field they were playing on was adjacent to a basketball court, where Jeppe’s 1st team was competing. As is typical of basketball matches at Jeppe, the stands were packed with spectators. At first, the crowd was focused on the basketball contest and occasionally cast an eye towards the cricket.

However, Casais’s fireworks captured their attention, and the mood grew more festive with each boundary that rocketed his score close to 200. In no time at all, the crowd had erupted, and they began chanting his name the moment he reached the 200-run mark. With each run that he added after reaching his double century, the noise level increased.

“It was an amazing and humbling experience for him. He has never been prouder to be a Jeppe boy,” Marc shared.

A few months later, Casais featured in a Lions u15 Regional Week semifinal match between the Lions u14 and Lions u15 teams. History repeated itself; Casais walked to the middle in the first over. Unlike the St Benedict’s bowling attack, the Lions u15 bowlers maintained disciplined lines and lengths and denied Casais room to express himself.

Demonstrating a strong mental approach, he knuckled down and compiled an unbeaten 89 to shepherd the u14 team to a score close to 150. The teenager then showcased his all-round skills to help his team make history. By successfully defending their total, they became the first u14 team to reach an u15 final.

The teenager’s ability to transform matches from any position hastened his inclusion in the Jeppe 1st XI. The 16-year-old, who idolised AB de Villiers in his early years and has since added Virat Kohli, Joe Root, and Steve Smith to the list of cricketers who inspire him, is in his second year as a 1st XI player. He was in Grade 9 when he made his Black Caps debut at the Fasken Time Cricket Festival.

In his first season in the Jeppe 1st XI, he scored 1537 runs and took 35 wickets.

This season, Casais has been a consistent presence in the middle order for Jeppe in T20 matches, boasting an average of 30 and a strike rate of over 130. He also averages an outstanding 55 in six 50-over cricket matches.

“We haven’t had a player like him in quite a while. He is mentally strong, confident, and has immense self-belief,” Casey Arnold, the Jeppe coach, said. “He backs that up with a strong work ethic; he hits more than a thousand balls a day. He has a deep desire and hunger to do well.”

However, Arnold believes Casais will go far because of his ability to process disappointment. He revealed that the 16-year-old takes failure in his stride, and he doesn’t allow bad outings to get him down. He views them as learning moments.

“I think that’s what makes him special. He doesn’t get down on himself if he has a barren run. He is mentally tough. He looks at challenges, and he tackles them head-on. His mindset will take him far.”

In March, when Jeppe contests the Switch Schools SA20 Volume Two Final Showdown, Casais will be one of their key players when they go up against top teams from around South Africa.  The teenager, who trains faithfully every day, is sharpening his skills, aiming to deliver when it matters the most.

He’s a calm character, well-spoken, passionate about hockey, and has arguably one of the most interesting philosophies in the school game.

His name is Reggie Keates.

Keates has been tasked with taking St Anne’s Diocesan College hockey to the next level as the Director of the school’s programme and first-team coach.

He’s taken over the reins from Morné Odendaal, who has returned to C&N Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje in Bloemfontein.

Acquiring the services of Keates is a major coup for St Anne’s. He brings an impressive CV and a wealth of experience to his position.

The South Africa-born coach spent the last 20 years leading and coaching at Millfield School in the United Kingdom (UK), a renowned sporting powerhouse.

During his tenure there, he coached the school’s boys’ and girls’ first teams before taking over as the Director of Hockey. He was also involved in club structures and England’s pathway systems.

Now that he has returned to South Africa, he intends to pass on the experience he gained abroad to the benefit of St Anne’s.

“As a coach, like a player, your coaching evolves through time and experiences,” he told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“I was fortunate enough to be mentored by good coaches before I found my feet and my own way.

“The principle at the heart of my coaching is player development from a holistic perspective. I always want my players to be playing different sports because of the transferable skills that can be gained from them.

“I have also spent some time in Holland and America, learning and picking up on ideas that have contributed to me as a coach. I look to add that to my new role.”

Keates was born and raised in KwaZulu-Natal before leaving for the UK at the age of 18. Last year, when he returned to South Africa, he had a stint coaching at Hilton College, where he took charge of the u16A and second teams for about five weeks.

He and his family enjoyed their stay, and when the call came from St Anne’s, it felt too good an opportunity to turn down.

“I had an exchange programme in June last year, and I coached at Hilton College,” he shared. “My three young children were also at a nearby pre-primary. We spent the month here, and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

“My children and wife had an amazing experience, and that initiated us exploring the possibility of a move. So, when Mrs Martin, the headmistress, got in touch, it was a no-brainer, and I suppose the rest is history.”

The former Millfield man will approach his role as director in an unorthodox manner. Before they chase results, he wants his players to understand his style of play and philosophy.

“I would say my philosophy is to maximise an individual’s potential,” he explained.

“If a player leaves St Anne’s and gets to university and plays for the love of the game, that’s fantastic. That’s as fantastic to me as our players who represent the province or South Africa.

“Our playing identity is fast and dynamic, and the way we play the game is more important than the actual result. I believe that if we stick to the fundamentals and concern ourselves with performance, the outcome will take care of itself.”

When it comes to building the St Anne’s hockey programme, Keates is adamant that his focus won’t just be on the 1st team. He’ll pour the same energy into the younger age groups.

“We’ve just gone through our pre-season assessment phase, and I have been really impressed.

“We have strength and depth going from grade eight right through to grade 12. There’s certainly talent here, and I’m looking forward to getting my teeth into it and developing the whole programme, not just the 1st team.

“The 1st team will be okay this season. They didn’t lose many players from last year.

“For me, it’s about sustainability and developing the whole programme so that you have sustainable success rather than short-term success.”

St Anne’s will kick off their season at the Our Lady of Fatima Coastal Hockey Festival on 6 March.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Jan-Willem Pienaar and all-rounder Johan Bosch guided Die Hoërskool Menlopark to a second consecutive victory over Hoërskool Waterkloof in the A Section of the Finsbury League on Wednesday.

With the Klofies travelling to KwaZulu-Natal for the Clifton T2o Tournament over the weekend, a fixture likely to be repeated in the Finsbury A League final on Saturday, 21 February, was brought forward and played across Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons.

Playing at home, Parkies won the toss and elected to bat. An opening stand of 53 between Juan Lombaard (35) and André Kruyshaar (16) provided a solid platform, and their teammates built upon it, advancing the total to a strong 275 all out.

Fresh off a recent century, Pienaar continued his rich vein of form. In another commanding display, he struck six sixes and three fours in his 91, the highest individual score of the match.

Bosch, batting at seven, enjoyed an excellent all-round match, beginning with a blistering 55 from just 27 deliveries. Notably, his boundary count mirrored that of Pienaar – six sixes and three fours – as he shifted the momentum decisively in Menlopark’s favour.

On Wednesday, he followed up with a fine spell of bowling, claiming the last three Waterkloof wickets, to return 3/25. Murray Hofmeyr, with 2/27, and Wihan Spanneberg, with 2/37, had earlier made important breakthroughs at the top of the order.

It was, however, two crucial run outs in the middle order, which included Waterkloof’s leading batsman, Johan Feuth, that proved pivotal. Feuth had appeared to be well on his way to a potential match-winning knock before he was dismissed for 71.

Juan Swart (34) and AJ de Villiers (32) added useful contributions, but the defending champions were restricted to 215 all out, falling 60 runs short of Menlo’s total.

It was a must-win outing for Menlopark, so an emphatic win over Klofies was a huge boost to their morale. Not only did it secure their place in the final, but it also handed the defending champions their first defeat of the season.

Summarised scorecards

Menlopark 275 (Jan-Willem Pienaar 91, Johan Bosch 55, Juan Lombaard 35; AJ de Villiers 3/33, Rian Klopper 3/41); Waterkloof 215 (Johan Feuth 71, Juan Swart 34, AJ de Villiers 32; Johan Bosch 3/25, Murray Hofmeyr 2/27, Wihan Spanneberg 2/37). Menlopark won by 60 runs. 

Die Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) van Pretoria se 2026 rugbyseisoen sal geensins op ‘n maklike wyse begin nie. Dit is egter wat verwag word van ‘n span wat deel van Suid-Afrika se “Groot Vyf” op skolevlak, uitmaak.

Die Pretorianers se seisoen sal op 14 Maart met ‘n derby in die Jakarandstad begin.

Hoërskool Waterkloof sal dan steeds vir die eerste keer sedert 2017 na sy eerste sege oor die Wit Bulle opsoek wees. Slegs ‘n week later, op 21 Maart, wag sy nuwe jaarlikse ontmoeting met Paul Roos Gimnasium.

Die rugbyreus uit die hoofstad het aan die einde van die 2025 seisoen aangekondig dat die jaarlikse wedstryd teen Helpmekaar Kollege, met dié van Paul Roos vervang sal word.

Dié nuutste uitdaging teen een van die land se ander groot honde sal vanjaar in Stellenbosch plaasvind. Dit vorm ook deel van die King Price Derby Series.

Ruan Jacobs sal weer vanjaar aan stuur van sake as hoofafrigter van die Wit Bulle wees. Jacobs meen dat die doelwit in die nuwe jaar sal wees om op die momentum wat in 2025 gekom het, voort te bou. Om hiermee te help, het Jacobs en hulpafrigter Jaco Koch sewe name wat vir ‘n tweede seisoen van eerstespan rugby sal terugkeer.

Die Wit Bulle se spandokter, Dr. Henry Kelbrick, sal vanjaar vir die 28ste jaar dié rol vertolk. Hy het self in 1984 en 1985 vir die Wit Bulle in die voorry gesak en ook na skool vir Noord-Transvaal verteenwoordig.

Haker Charl Els, die vurige senter Estian Marx en skrumskakel Fourie Roberts sal onder meer drie van die groep van sewe wees. Els het in 2025 sy staal gewys. Die haker het sy buiging op die laaste dag van die Cravenweek gemaak, nadat hy eers by die Akademie-week betrokke was. Hy is ook daarna na die Wes-Kaap genooi om deel van SA Rugby se o.17 hoë-prestasiegroep te vorm.

Marx se pa Eugene Marx het die Wit Bulle vir drie jaar – 1994, 1995 en 1996 verteenwoordig. Els se vader ook Charl was een was Marx se spanmaats in 1995 en 1996 wat die Beeldtrofee verower het. Die Wit Bulle het ook natuurlik in 1994 die kroon gedra. Marx het 65 keer vir die Wit Bulle uitgedraf en 35 keer die doellyn oorgesteek. Els het self die pad doellyn toe geken en 16 keer in 1995 gaan druk. Hy was self in ‘n ongelooflike 51 wedstryde vir Affies se eerstespan in aksie.

Roberts se pa Freddie Roberts , ook ‘n skrumskakel, het Suidwestelike Distrikte in 62 wedstryde tussen 1997 en 1999 verteenwoordig. Hy het ook vir die Valke in 44 wedstryde uitgedraf.

Els was in 2024, saam met vier ander Affie–spelers, Hannes Nagel, Morné Bisset, Hendré Lombaard en Martin van Niekerk, ook deel van die o.16 Hoë-prestasie Kamp. Nagel, Lombaard en Van Niekerk is ook al drie weer tot Jacobs se beskikking.

Ses van Affies se 16 wedstryde in vanjaar se seisoen sal by feeste wees. Die eerste twee sal by die jaarlikse Noord/Suid wees. Die Pretorianers is vanjaar terug op tuisbodem nadat die toernooi in 2025 in Stellenbosch plaasgevind het. Die Wit Bulle sal eerstens teen die Bulle van Oakdale Landbou te staan kom. Sy tweede kragmeting sal met die onvoorspelbare Hoërskool Durbanville wees.

Pretoria Boys High se Eeufees volg waar die Wit Bulle weer twee keer in aksie sal wees. Michaelhouse is eerste op die spyskaart, waarna Grey High School as nagereg wag. In Kimberley, by die Absa Wildeklawer, sal die Wit Bulle litte losmaak teen Outeniqua voor die groot ontmoeting met Paarl Boys’ High, wat een van die hoogtepunte van die seisoen, nie net by die week, sal wees nie.

Dit is natuurlik ook die begin van taai drie weke. Jeppe High School for Boys volg die kragmeting met Boishaai. Dit is egter die ontmoeting met Grey Kollege in Pretoria op 16 Mei wat die

Buiten die sewe wat terugkeer, het die Affie-afrigtingspan tien jongelinge wat die sprong na die hoër vlak met ywer sal aanpak. Die Pretorianers het ‘n groot gros spelers wat in 2025 by die Grant Khomo-week in aksie was. Hiervan was, nie minder nie, as nege by die nasionale o.16 hoë-prestasiegroep betrokke.

Dié tien word deur ses voorspelers, waarvan vier sake vir ‘n plek in die vaste vyf sal uitspook, en vier in die agterhoede, uitgemaak.

Ziaan Slabbert en Liam de Jager sal met Hannes Nagel vir ‘n plek in die voorry armdruk. Hendré Ehlers ding met Els vir die tweetrui mee, terwyl Alexandré Muller vir Martin van Niekerk op sy tone sal hou. Die stryd vir die agt-trui tussen Janno Geyser en Caleb Pretorius sal verder bydra tot ‘n sterk, tradisionele Affie pak.

Agterlangs sal Rico du Plessis ‘n sterk aanspraakmaker vir ‘n plek in die middelveld, heel moontlik saam met Marx, wees. Dandré Brink is verder deel van die groep wat die Wit Bulle se versterkings in die agterhoede betref. Ruben Smith is die vroeë gunsteling om Fourie se moontlike skakelmaat te wees.

Kyle van Staden blyk die gusteling om Lamond Baadjies se opvolger as heelagter te wees. Die Wit Bulle se uitdagende seisoen sal, soos gebruiklik, met die tradisionele derby teen Pretoria Boys High, op 8 Augustus afgesluit word.

Affies se bepalings vir 2026: 

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The phrase “trust the process“ is often broadly applied in sports and can be misunderstood at times.

The actual meaning of the term is “to have faith that a well-thought-out plan will produce a positive outcome, even when results are not immediately visible.”

It’s a phrase that the Paarl Gimnasium girls’ first hockey side will need to embrace and trust in 2026 if they are to build on the successes of recent seasons.

After achieving incredible feats in 2024, Gim upped the ante even further in 2025 and excelled under head coach Danelle van Zyl.

They were, beyond a shadow of a doubt, one of South Africa’s top teams, and played a captivating brand of hockey that led them to some outstanding results in the Western Cape and around the country.

In the forthcoming season, it’s all about building on that momentum, according to coach Van Zyl told SuperSport Schools Plus. 

“I am so excited for the season to start,” she said. “We have been working hard in the off-season, and I am excited to see how the hard work pays off, not just technically but physically as well.

“We want to build on last year’s successes with a new team and to pull them together as quickly as possible to maintain a good team culture.”

Throughout the 2025 season, Gim lost just one game, falling 0-1 against Rhenish Girls’ High, in a league clash in Stellenbosch.

Barring that defeat, they were phenomenal and lifted the Belgotex Sport Girls Hockey Challenge title before going on to win the renowned Fairtree Super 12 title later in the season.

Retaining both crowns with a younger squad won’t be easy, but it’s a challenge that her charges could achieve, Van Zyl said.

“We lost five matrics at the end of last year, so there will be some new faces in the team.

“We are definitely excited to test ourselves against the best in the country. Our main emphasis is teamwork and enhancing each other’s strengths.

“We want to play with purpose and understand where we are going as a team. We are looking for a fast-paced, forward-thinking game, and everyone must trust the process.”

Coach Van Zyl’s troops will be in action for the first time at the Springfield Convent School Pre-Season Festival, which takes place from 13 to 15 March.